Tag Archives: design

Head case

Posted on February 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

I’m looking at world through frog’s eyes
Looking at the world through frog’s eyes
Looking at the world through frog’s eyes
And you can just hop off!

My apologies to Heywood Banks.  And you can buy the frog hats, too.

(You know you want ‘em.)

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Children, Comedy, Crafts, Design, Dogs, Fashion, Humor, Life, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Royal flush

Posted on February 17, 2012 | 3 Comments

There’s Team Edward and Team Jacob. But in the doll making game…

It’s Team William all the way.

Mattel has released a Barbie and Ken version of William and Kate to commemorate their upcoming one-year wedding anniversary.

As you can see, they have given William a full head of hair — something he doesn’t possess in real life — and strengthened his jawline. And although Kate looks a bit like every Barbie I’ve seen, she’s pretty and her gown is spot-on.

No doll marker would risk offending the royal family.

That clearly wasn’t a concern for the Mattel designer selected to create the dolls that recreate the wedding of Bella and Edward in Twilight Breaking Dawn.

I’m guessing he isn’t a fan of the saga.  And Edward in particular.

His doll’s face is flat and fat, and his hair looks like an old lady’s wig.  I know the white makeup isn’t flatteringly on anyone in the movies, but it eliminates all detail here.

In the words of my friend Tina…

Barf.

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Humor, Movies, Entertainment, Comedy, Life, News, Shopping, Commentary, Design, Toys, Children

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Please. Stand. Still.

Posted on February 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

I spent a lot of my childhood motion sick.  Cars, boats, planes, you name it — we just didn’t get along.

But what if the very floor could give you vertigo?

Don’t laugh.  It’s happening.

Researchers in Jersey City, New Jersey have found that high contrast black-and-white carpeting is making people sick.

We’re talking headaches.  Visual distress.  Even seizures in epileptics.

Man…that boat trip is sounding better all the time.

They aren’t exactly sure why a high contrast repeating pattern can give the illusion of motion and make viewers sick.  But based on their findings, researchers do recommend that you give carpet more than a quick glance before you make any purchase for your home.

Your home?  I think this information is even more important for all the planes, trains, and automobiles out there.

Talk about a double whammy!

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Airplanes, Automobiles, Business, Cars, Commentary, Design, Furniture, Health, Home, Humor, Life, transportation, Travel

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Favorite places

Posted on February 8, 2012 | Leave a comment

While re-watching 500 Days of Summer recently, I found myself wondering…

What are my favorite buildings in Manhattan?

The lovesick architect Tom, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, was able to find inspiration in Los Angeles.  I live in New York City, home to some of the most iconic buildings in the world.  What speaks to me?

The Lucerne Hotel

When I was looking for my first apartment in the city back in 2006, this Upper West Side building immediately caught my eye.  The realtor had made an appointment for me at a nondescript high-rise across the street; I just wanted to talk about this beautifully ornate structure.

I soon learned it was a boutique hotel with a decidedly European influence — a French restaurant occupies the entire ground floor — and that had it just undergone a major renovation.

But at the turn-of-the-century, The Lucerne was a residence hotel.  Eugene O’Neill is one of its more storied occupants.  I’m sure it was less grand back then, but the man knew his architecture.

I wish the darn thing would go co-op now!

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Commentary, Design, History, Home, Humor, Life, Travel, Walking

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Spectacles

Posted on February 4, 2012 | 6 Comments

I’ve worn glasses since I was nine years old.

Some were butt ugly.  A couple were stylish and fun, including my current pair of classic Ray Bans.  But I have never liked any better than

THESE

Kudos to street artist Pavel Puhov.

→ 6 Comments

Posted in Art, Design, Humor, Internet, Life, Photography

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Food as art

Posted on February 1, 2012 | 3 Comments

There are many pursuits in life that we trust only to experts. Electrical.  Plumbing.  Surgery.  The cutting of our bangs.

Trust me on that last one.

So why do so many people attempt to photograph the food on the plate in front of them?

True, cameraphones today have the technology to produce great images, but that doesn’t automatically mean we can…especially when hot and cold foods are involved.

Food stylists employ all kinds of amazing techniques and non-food items to create the beautiful images we enjoy online and in magazines.

Like Hollywood superstars, these foods are airbrushed and artificial.

That’s why your picture of grandma’s green bean casserole or turkey chili or that special cocktail from the bar that you text from your phone or post on Facebook or Twitter often receives such unexpectedly negative comments from your family and friends.

It looks kinda gross.  Sorry.

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Art, Commentary, Cooking, Food, Foods, Humor, Internet, Life, Photography, Technology

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lady luck

Posted on January 28, 2012 | Leave a comment

When it comes to bugs, I earned my wimp card years ago.

I’m not a fan.

But the ladybug?  That’s one very different beetle.  It’s cute, it eats a lot of harmful insects and it’s lucky.  (That’s a scientific fact.)

If you like ladybugs too, you might consider this Ladybug Nightlight that my friend Stephanie sells at Stoopher & Boots on the Upper West Side.

Look at that face.

And you might stop reading right now.  Because the rest of this post on ladybugs will freak you out.  It did me.

Hungarian Artist Gabor Fulop also likes ladybugs.  A lot. So much so that he created 20,000 and hand-painted them.

He then applied his ladybug creations to a  sculpture of the human form, forcing viewers to imagine what it would feel like to have ladybugs crawling over every inch of their bodies.

Me?  I wouldn’t feel lucky at all.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Animals, Art, Commentary, Design, Humor, Life, Museums, Shopping

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Comprehension

Posted on January 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

How often do we judge something as being good or bad without fully understanding it?

We’re all human, so I would guess…too many times to count.

It appears Anthony Burrill agrees. The English illustrator and designer is well-known for his posters, videos and 3-D pieces.

Check out his print below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this.

(What is it?)

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Art, Comedy, Commentary, Design, Humor, Life, Museums

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Meow

Posted on January 10, 2012 | 6 Comments

Pet owners.  We love our animals.

And companies know they can sell us just about anything.

Huffpost.com recently put together a collection of some of the stupidest pet products on the market.  I can’t disagree with the editors on most of ‘em.  They are ridiculous.

BUT…

I have to stand up for one of them…mainly because the product in question is less ridiculous for pets than it is for its original human intent.

Kitty Croc Bed

The croc shoe has been super-sized and turned into a bed for cats.  HuffPost argues it is far stupider looking in this iteration.

I disagree.

Croc shoes are ugly.  They may be the most comfortable shoe on the planet — but there’s not a foot in the world that doesn’t look stupid in them.

Sorry, Mario.

I think making the croc huge and putting a kitten inside is the best thing that ever happened to the shoe.  Dare I say…

Purrrfect?

→ 6 Comments

Posted in Animals, Commentary, Design, Fashion, Humor, Internet, Shopping

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Blocked

Posted on January 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

There have been a lot of reruns on TV during the holidays.  Now 2012 has arrived.

Is this year going to be a rerun, too?

I was reading a ‘style preview’ and was fascinated to discover that color blocking is going to be all the rage in 2012.

Color blocking?  Wow.  How innovative.  I think this has been the third or fourth time that color blocking has been ‘new and red hot’ in my lifetime alone.

I remember buying a Mondrian-style blazer for my very first job out of college when color blocking was big.

I know fashion is cyclical, but I wish we had a few more original ‘episodes’ thrown in between the reruns.

I gotta admit, though — these new color blocked tights are kinda out there.   So maybe color blocking in 2012 is less of a rerun…

…and more of sequel with 3D effects.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Commentary, Design, Fashion, Humor, Life, New Years, Shopping

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,